How Inlanta Mortgage’s New LOS Lead to Record Growth

The strategic relationship between lender and LOS provider is essential if lenders are interested in growing their
profits and their business in an efficient manner. A well-designed loan origination system (LOS) is the backbone
of a successful mortgage business, but lenders using outdated systems face the challenge of weighing whether
the benefits of upgrading to a modern system are worth the costs of a conversion.

The Decision

While integrating a new loan origination system
(LOS) can be a lengthy process for mortgage
lenders, with the guidance of a knowledgeable LOS
vendor, this process is improved with the utilization
of best practices that enhance business operations
and profitability on the lender’s side.

Inlanta Mortgage recently tackled this very
monumental task and the mortgage lender found
upgrading to a new system improved their business.
The Pewaukee, Wisconsin-based mortgage lender
came to LendingQB after seeking a provider that
would understand their needs and could improve
their loan origination process without disrupting the
experience of consumers.

Inlanta Mortgage recently tackled this very
monumental task and the mortgage lender found
upgrading to a new system improved their business.

Finding and implementing a new LOS

With 25 years in operation in 20 states, Inlanta knew
their LOS system needed the capacity to meet the
ever-growing demand on their business. As their
former LOS system was being sunsetted, Inlanta
used the opportunity to seek out a more
streamlined platform that could process loans
efficiently at a faster pace. During the evaluation
process, the lender looked at six different providers
and determined LendingQB best met its needs with
its web-based, configurable solution.

While other LOS implementations typically take 18
to 24 months before they go live, Inlanta’s took
less than a year. Inlanta began integrating the
LendingQB platform in November 2015. Inlanta
employees were trained on the new system
starting in mid-February, 2016, and the complete
pipe of loans rolled into the LendingQB system
by June of 2016.

“The LendingQB implementation team we
worked with was amazing,” said Chris Knowlton,
Chief Information Officer of Inlanta. “The way
LendingQB designed their LOS, there is a
recommended path into the program so there’s
not a lot of areas to go sideways. This resulted in
a clean rollout with few issues. “

This success is due in part to the strategic
relationship between the duo that fostered an
environment of trust. Inlanta allowed LendingQB
to provide best practices around the
implementation, which left the process with little
room for error and allowed Inlanta to streamline
their workflow.

Stress-Free Improvements

With LendingQB, Inlanta found itself in a new
position, one that allowed it to be a proactive
lender with the ability to expedite the origination
process and monitor its loans at every step of the
process, without dedicating large amounts of staffing
resources to do so.

“Some companies don’t want to think of lending as a
manufacturing process, but that’s how we envision the
process,” Knowlton said. “Once we get the necessary
data for the loan, it should go down an assembly line in
an organized, systematic method. Our loans need to be
closed within 30 days, and using a better processing
system with the mindset of a manufacturing process
enables us to efficiently process loans within that time
span while creating a quality
experience for the
customer.”

As part of the relationship,
LendingQB takes an active
role in continuing to assist
Inlanta with its LOS
workflow.

“We use a continuous
improvement process when it comes to manufacturing
loans and LendingQB has continued to work with us on
a regular basis well after implementation was
complete,” said Knowlton. “Every two weeks, my team
meets to discuss any issues or concerns with the
system. We then pass those concerns to LendingQB
who advises us on how to solve those problems and
enhance processes. We appreciate how well
LendingQB has taken care of us throughout this entire
process.”

During the course of the first three months using the
LendingQB LOS, Inlanta saw its loan volume reach
extraordinary levels. This period set the record for the
highest volume of a 3-month period in the lender’s
history. What was remarkable to Knowlton and his staff
was the ease with which they were able to support the
record-setting volume. Immediately following the
implementation of LendingQB, Knowlton noticed how
much more at ease and calm his staff was, even though
they were managing about 20 percent more volume
with exactly the same personnel. Inlanta was able to
move the business with much less stress and overtime.

“I fully expected that there would be a dip in volume
when we migrated from our old LOS to LendingQB but
the exact opposite happened. There was a surge in
volume just as we went from implementation into
production and we didn’t skip a beat,” said Knowlton.
"The conversion to LendingQB allowed Inlanta to offer a
better experience to our customers by closing loans
much faster. I don’t know many companies that are able
to rollout a new LOS and reduce average application to
closing times. That’s a testament to the technology and the people at
LendingQB. They made sure the system and all of our
staff were fully prepared to use their LOS.”

With LendingQB, Inlanta is
targeting 55-60% of a month’s
workload is complete by the
15th of each month. With the
majority of the loan
processing completed in the
beginning of the month, new
business can be initiated by
the middle of the month. The
LOS provides a platform that
improves efficiency, speeds
and overall business practices.

“LendingQB’s system removes any hidden information,
meaning we know where everything is at any point in
time,” said Knowlton. “Every day we have a clear view of
where each loan is, and it provides powerful insight.
Everyone and everything is on one platform, which
enhances every step of the loan origination process. We
continue to see the benefits of the new LOS each day.”

As Inlanta continues to see positive results, they are
thankful for the working relationship maintained with
LendingQB.

Even as LendingQB’s primary responsibly is to ensure the operational stability of the LOS, Inlanta credits the team with going above and beyond by looking out in the best interest of their needs. When a lender and third-party vendor as able to maintain a trust and appreciation such as this, the result is a sustainable level of growth in which both parties benefit.